Portable folding lectern



May 1.5, 1962 H. EDWARDS PORTABLE FOLDING LECTERN Filed Oct. 5. 1959 INVENTOR. H.L. EDWARDS A T TORNEYS uni e Pat 3,034,253 PORTABLE FOLDING LECTERN Harold L. Edwards, Bartlesville, kla., assignor to Phillips Petroleum Company, a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 5, 1959, Ser. No. 844,534 Claims. (Cl. 45-121) This invention relates to a novel portable folding lectern designed for table top use. In another aspect it relates to a lectern that can be folded into a flat unit to serve as an attache case that may be used to carry lecture materials or other papers.

Executives, salesmen and lecturers, for example, often experience occasions when they mustdeliver lectures without the benefit of a lectern. Thus, they frequently experience the inconvenience of not having a suitable facility for arranging their lecture material in a properly oriented position for the purpose of reading or reference while lecturing.

An object of this invention is to provide a combined portable lectern and lecture material case whereby the lectern may be folded into a conveniently carried attach case. Another object of thisinvention is to provide a combined portable lectern and lecture material case which is handily and economically manufactured, and most practical for the purpose intended. A further object is to provide in a combined lectern and case means whereby the inclined supporting panel of the lectern forms one side, and the vertical back panel of the lectern forms the other side, of the folded case.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will 3,034,253 Patented May 15, 1962 clined panel 18, suitably disposed within handle 32.-

- In FIGURE 2, panels 13 and 21 to 25 may be seen in a folded position as when the lectern is folded and inverted for carrying. r v

FIGURE 3 more clearly shows the latching device 33 which locks into key-shaped hole 34. The latching device, which is a suitably conformed extension of inclined panel 18, has extending perpendicularly from the end thereof a shaft 36 of a suitable length terminating in a become apparent to those skilled in the art from a study of the accompanying disclosure, drawings, and appended claims.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective viewof the novel combined portable lectern and carrying case, the same being shown in the position of use as a portable lectern;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the novel combined portable lectern and carrying case, the same being shown in a folded position for carrying as a case, but with top partially open to show appearance of the support panels when folded;

. FIGURE 3 is a cross section of the latch detail of the carrying case in the closed position; and

1 FIGURE 4 depicts the pattern for stamping the template of this invention from a flat sheet of a suitable plastic material. 7

Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings wherein like parts 'have been designated with like reference numbers.

Referring to FIGURE 1, a portable folding lectern, generally designated by 11, composed of a single member 12, formed from a sheet of a suitable material. Front panel 13 is formed by fastening, preferably by butt welding, the ends 14 and 15 of member 12 to one another. Front panel 13 thus forms the retaining surface for the front edge 17 of panel 18'. Horizontal panel 18 serves as the surface'fo'r the support of lecture materials or notes. Rear panel 19 is preferably substantially higher than front panel 13 in order to give supporting panel 18 an inclined disposition. Rear panel 19 also forms a vertical support to horizontal top case side 20 which continuously extends in right angular relationship from panel 19. Top 20 continuously extends in angular relationship to form horizontally inclined panel 18. tending transversely between the opposing ends of vertical panel sections 13 and 19 are connecting side panels 21, 22, 23 and 24, disposing in diverging angular relationship, as clearly seen in FIGURE 2. Side panels 21 and 23 are extensions from front panel 13. Back side panels 22 and 24 are extensions from attach case sides 26 and 27, respectively, angularly continuing in front side panels ball 37. This ball 37 has a diameter slightly smaller than the eye portion of a key-shaped hole 34 to permit entry therethrough, and a somewhat greater diameter than the reduced porticnof key hole 34 to retain ball 37in a latched position.

- FIGURE '4 depicts the pattern for constructing the device of this invention. The template, generally designated 12, comprises a rectangular main member divided into an upper and lower section, 18 and 19, respectively. The dividingsnrip 20 between sections 18 and 19 forms horizontal top case side 20 when in an assembled position, as in FIGURE 1. Upper-section 18 has a handle 32 and a latching device 33 extending from the middle of its top edge 17. The-lower section 19 has side panels 22 and 24 continuously extending from its opposing ends. The dividing strips 26 and 27, between panel 19 and its extension panels 22 and 24, form the-vertical case sides 26 and 27, when assembled. These side panels are preferably inclined along their top edges 40 and 41, in order to give panel 18 an inclined position when the lectern is assembled. Patterns 21 and 23 terminate in rectangular panels 42 and 44, respectively, which provide the two sections joined to form front panel 13. Template 12 is pressure indented along all the lines indicated by dotted lines, thus permitting folding and erecting of the template to form the configuration of lectern. It is also necessary that the vertical indentations be perpendicular to the sides of the panels which they define, so that the bottom edges of the assembled lectern will lie in the same horizontal plane. Ends 46, 47, 48 and 490i strips 20, 26 and 27 are fastened together, preferably by welding, to form case sides 20, 26-and 27, when assembled, as shown in FIG- URE 1.

Panels 42 and 44 have rectangular strips, 51 and 52 respectively, cut out of, their upper corners in order to form a rectangular recess 30,shown in FIGURE 1, when the template is assembled, of a suitable length and depth to accommodate the neck of handle 32. This also permits top edge 31 of front panel 13 to serve as a lower retaining edge for books, papers, etcl, that are to be supported on inclined panel 18. p a n g I I p p The lectern of this invention can be, fabricated from almost any materialthat is manufactured in rigid sheets, but one that is also capable of being pressure indented and folded along these indentations. It is also necessary for the material to possess enough flexibility so as not to become work hardened to the point of cracking from repeated setting up and folding away of the lectern. Good surface hardness and resistance to changing atmospheric conditions are also desirable features of the material to be used.

Plastic materials are preferred in this invention. Thermoplastic resins, such as the polyolefins, particularly polyethylene and polypropylene, possess most of the properties practice ofthis invention, I prefer to use those polyolefins and particularly polyethylene having a density of 0.940 up to 0.970, as determined by the following method.-

The density referred to herein, and in the claims, is determinel by ASTM Method D l505-'-57T. Ethanol and water were usedas the suspending liquids. The samples used for density determination are prepared by compres sion-molding molten pellets of the particular olefin polymer, such as propylene or ethylene polymer; to form a slab about 6 inches and to /2 inch thick. A Pasadena press (Model P325, Pasadena Hydraulics, Inc.) is used. The slabs are molded at 20,000 p.s.i. and 330 F. The heat is then turned off. Tap water is circulated through the mold cooling system. The slab is cooled to 200 F. at the rate of 25 F. per minute, and then to 150 F. as rapidly as possible by increasing the how rate of the cooling water. The slab is then removed'from the mold and allowed to stand for 24 hours at room temperature. Small pieces of the slab, e.g. about A inch squares, are cut off for the density determination. These pieces are examined to be sure that they have no surface pits or other features which might occlude or entrap air when immersed the retaining surface for the front edge of said horizontal panel; transversely extending sidepanels folded approximately in their middle in a diverging angular relationship when said lectern is in, an open position, and providing vertical support for said horizontal panel; a rear panel preferably substantially higher than said front panel to provide saidhorizontal panel with an inclined disposition; rectangular strips connecting said rear panel to said side panelsand to said horizontal panel, said rectangular strips forming the sides of an attach case when said folding lecternis in the closed position, and means to maintain said side panels, at a fixed angular relationship while said lectern isinthe open position.

2. A portable folding lectern comprising, in combination: a generally horizontal panel; a front panel forming the retaining surface for the front edge of said horizontal panel; transversely extending side panels folded approximately in their middle in a diverging angular relationship when said lecternis in an open position, and providing vertical support for 'said horizontal panel; a rear panel preferably substantially higher than said front panel to provide said horizontal panelwith an inclined disposiing handle, a latching device locking said horizontal panel tion, rectangular stripsconnecting said rear panelto said panel'having a rectangular recess in the middle of its upper edge to receivethe neck of a longitudinally extending a le- 3. A portable folding lectern comprising, in combination: a generally horizontal panel; a front panel forming the retaining surface for the front'edge of said horizontal panel; transversely extending side panels folded approximately in their middle in a diverging angular relationship when said lectern is in an open position, and providing verticals upport for said horizontal panel, a rear panel preferably substantially higher than said front panel to provide said horizontal panel with an inclined disposition; rectangular strips connecting said rear panel to said side panels and to'said horizontal panel; said rectangular strips forming the sides of an attache case when said folding lectern is in the closed position; said front panel having a rectangular recess in the middle of its upper edge to receive the neck of a longitudinally extending handle; and a latching device locking said horizontal panel to said rear panel when said lectern is in' the closed position.

4. A portable folding lectern comprising, in combination: a generally horizontal panel; a front panel forming ther'etaining'surface for the frontedge of said horizontal panel; transverselyex'tending side panels folded approximately in their middle in a diverging angular relationship when said lectern is in an open position, and providing vertical support for said horizontal panel; a rear panel preferably substantially higher than said front panel to provide said horizontal panel with an inclined disposition; rectangular strips connecting said rear panel to said side panels and to said horizontal panel, said rectangular strips forming the sides of an attache case when said folding lectern is in the closed position; said front panel having a rectangular recess in the middle of its upper edge to receive the neck of a longitudinally extendto said rear panel when said lectern is in the closed position; and said lectern being fabricated of polyethylene.

5. A portable folding lectern comprising, in combination: a generally horizontal panel; a front panel forming the retaining surface for the front edge of said horizontal panel; transversely extending side panels folded approximately in their middle in'a diverging angular relationship when said lectern is in an open position, and providing vertical support for said horizontal panel, a rear panel preferably substantially higher than said front panel to provide said horizontal panel with an inclined disposition; rectangular strips connecting said rear panel to said side panels and to said horizontal panel; said rectangular strips forming the sides of an attache case when saidpfolding lectern is in the closed position, said front panel having a rectangular recess in the middle of its upper edge to receive the neck of a longitudinally'extending handle, a latching device locking said horizontal panel to said rear panel when said lectern is in the closed position; said lectern being fabricatcd of polyethylene having a density from about 0.940 to 0.970.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 844,066 Warren Feb. 12, 1907 1,559,878 Humphreys} Nov. 3, 1925 2,474,532 Kitchen June 28, 1949 2,550,959 Bowman May 1, 1951 2, 40 Wailfik -l-=-----?---:--.- J1 e 5 

